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Some animals, such as dolphins, dogs, and African grey parrots, seem to exhibit cognitive functions typically associated with higher-order primates such as chimpanzees, gorillas, and humans. Some parrots, for example, have vocabularies of hundreds of words that they can string together in a comprehensible syntax. This clearly shows that humans and primates are not the only animals capable of using language to communicate. One parrot, named Alex, has been known to ask to be petted or kissed and will exhibit aggression if the gesture offered is not the specific one requested.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the conclusion above?

A. Dolphins can be trained to assist divers in ocean rescues.

B. Gorillas in captivity often learn hand signals for food and water.

C. Dogs are capable of sensing their owners' moods and often exhibit concern if they sense sadness.

D. Chimpanzees can memorize long sequences of key punches on machines that dispense food.

E. Alex does not exhibit aggression when offered a gesture that he specifically requested.

Hmm...then it's got to be E. There's actually two parts to the parrot story. One part says Alex displays aggression when not treated with what he asks. It would nail the evidence that Alex actually interprets and understands what he has asked for correctly by NOT becoming aggressive when he gets what he wants. So it's not just a "chance" reaction that he displays the first time around - on the contrary it signifies a reaction that can be attributed to the presence of cognitive functions in lower animals - which is what the argument is about.

If I am wrong again then there's something seriously wrong in my head...

Some animals, such as dolphins, dogs, and African grey parrots, seem to exhibit cognitive functions typically associated with
higher-order primates such as chimpanzees, gorillas, and humans. Some parrots, for example, have vocabularies of hundreds of
words that they can string together in a comprehensible syntax. This clearly shows that humans and primates are not the only
animals capable of using language to communicate. One parrot, named Alex, has been known to ask to be petted or kissed and will
exhibit aggression if the gesture offered is not the specific one requested.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the conclusion above?

A. Dolphins can be trained to assist divers in ocean rescues.

Nothing that suggests the ability to assist. Irrelevant. In addition the argument is about lower level primates and not high level primates

B. Gorillas in captivity often learn hand signals for food and water.
the argument is about lower level primates and not high level primates.

C. Dogs are capable of sensing their owners' moods and often exhibit concern if they sense sadness.

the argument is about lower level primates and not high level primates. Even though it talks about emotions, the conclusion is that are lower level animals
that belong to the category of high level primates.

D. Chimpanzees can memorize long sequences of key punches on machines that dispense food.

Irrelevant

E. Alex does not exhibit aggression when offered a gesture that he specifically requested.

Alex is a parrot (lower level primate) that knows a number of words. But in addition to that it displays this trait of not exhibiting
aggression when offered a gesture specifically requested by him. So he understands what kind of emotions he should display which is similar to higher level
primates.

This is a strenthen question. Strength questions typically confirm the assumption that links the evidence with the conclusion.

Evidence: Alex will exhibit aggression if the gesture offered is not the specific one requested.

Conclusion: based on Alex's example, parrots are like human who communicate with a language.

Assumptions:- exhibiting aggression in this case indicate communication via language
- this example is representative of all parrots or its group of animals
- this evidence is valid and relevant. That is, Alex has exhibited aggression BECAUSE the gesture offered is not the specific one requested.

Answer :E

Surprisingly, all other answer choices were either out-of-scope or don't help at all with the assumption thing.

Good one. E for me. Since Alex does not exhibit aggression when offered the requested gesture, it proves that Alex specifically recognizes the gesture and is not merely being aggressive for all gestures made.

Some animals, such as dolphins, dogs, and African grey parrots, seem to exhibit cognitive functions typically associated with higher-order primates such as chimpanzees, gorillas, and humans. Some parrots, for example, have vocabularies of hundreds of words that they can string together in a comprehensible syntax. This clearly shows that humans and primates are not the only animals capable of using language to communicate. One parrot, named Alex, has been known to ask to be petted or kissed and will exhibit aggression if the gesture offered is not the specific one requested.

Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the conclusion above?

A. Dolphins can be trained to assist divers in ocean rescues.

B. Gorillas in captivity often learn hand signals for food and water.

C. Dogs are capable of sensing their owners' moods and often exhibit concern if they sense sadness.

D. Chimpanzees can memorize long sequences of key punches on machines that dispense food.

E. Alex does not exhibit aggression when offered a gesture that he specifically requested.

need someone to explain why C is wrong ...

B,D out - talk about primates.A - no communication thing mentioned.

I see showing care as a kind of a communication .. I marked C. E is correct but C is better. E just tells a little more about an example cited in argument ... _________________

I would like to challenge E. If Alex does not respond with aggression to the gesture wanted, then this could be because he is a higher primate who can logically understand and communicate, or just as likely, he does not respond because he is not a higher primate who is unable to communicate like primate and humans. so this is inconclusive IMHO.

The conclusion can be strengthened if we prove without a doubt that certain mentioned species are higher primates who can communicate as humans.

C on the other hand proves that dogs, one of the species mentioned as a higher primate, can communicate as humans do. In the sense of emotional communication. All other options prove that animals can communicate but for survival instincts only, ie for need of food.

I would like to challenge E. If Alex does not respond with aggression to the gesture wanted, then this could be because he is a higher primate who can logically understand and communicate, or just as likely, he does not respond because he is not a higher primate who is unable to communicate like primate and humans. so this is inconclusive IMHO.

The conclusion can be strengthened if we prove without a doubt that certain mentioned species are higher primates who can communicate as humans.

C on the other hand proves that dogs, one of the species mentioned as a higher primate, can communicate as humans do. In the sense of emotional communication. All other options prove that animals can communicate but for survival instincts only, ie for need of food.